The Assault Rifle can fire approximately 3 beams per second. However, most Pirate Troopers tend to only fire quick bursts of four or five rounds before they maneuver their position.

The beam's purple color suggests that it is similar to the technology of the Wave Beam, or perhaps a Pirate-adapted form of the Plasma Beam. It deals little damage to Samus, but the lack of power is compensated by the speed and sheer number of the Pirates attacking her.